01. SM: What is your writing process?
YB: First, I am inspired by a brilliant idea (I feel). I quickly jot it down. This idea can appear at any time—in my car, while watching TV, while I’m in bed, even while I’m visiting a friend. After I mull over the idea, I write an outline to give me a sense of where it can go. I then determine what the first and last chapters will be about. The middle tends to flow from this. Of course, in the case of my non-fiction books, I sketch out most or all of the chapters and fill in the details based on my personal knowledge coupled with research and interviews.
02. SM: What do you read for pleasure?
YB: : I read novels―books that have a story with a good plot that I can get absorbed in, and it must have a surprise along the way. That is why I like John Grisham so much. I also enjoy a well written autobiography or memoir. Books with a bit of a lesson are good too.
03. SM: What is your e-reading device of choice?
YB: Notwithstanding the popularity of e-readers etc., I still prefer the traditional book that I can hold, turn the pages, mark the pages, and curl up in bed with it.
04. SM: Describe your desk
YB: My desk is a Staples job. It faces a wall with a beautiful Caribbean painting. The desk has a fair-sized surface where I ‘ve placed my computer monitor (I work with a desktop computer and use a notebook when I’m in the living room or travelling). I also have a reading lamp, a Lazy Susan with numerous pens, pencils and highlighters in various compartments, and a tray with files that I am working on. My keyboard sits on a pull-out tray, and my printer is under the desk.
05. SM: What do your fans mean to you?
YB: The people who read my books are most important to me because without them, there wouldn’t be much point in continuing to write. It’s great to be creative, and I find writing to be quite therapeutic, but at the end of the day, you want someone else to enjoy your efforts―fans do that. They bolster you and encourage you.
06. SM: Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
YB: I grew up in rural Manchester, a parish in Jamaica. Raised by grandparents, I spent the earlier part of my life on a farm. I am therefore no stranger to dogs, cows, pigs, and fresh citrus fruits. I find it interesting that this particular question is in the Smashwords’ arsenal because the novel I have recently completed and am about to seek a publisher for is set on a farm in Manchester and incorporates true country living, culture, politics, romance and much more
07. SM: When did you first start writing?
YB: I started writing books in early 1998. It was by sheer coincidence, or was it divine intervention? I had just returned from my first journey to West Africa in February. Excited to share the details about my amazing experience with friends, I invited several of them over for dinner. The overwhelming response to the anecdotes was, “You have to share your story with the world, not just us.” I took the suggestion to heart, joined the Canadian Authors Association, and began to attend writing seminars and workshops. I read extensively books about writing novels, short stories, and articles. While I worked on my first book, Into Africa, a Personal Journey, I wrote columns for three different newspapers. It was a hectic time but a fabulous experience. And by the way, I was working full-time as a bank manager at the time. I published my first book in 2000.
08. SM: When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
YB: That’s a tough question! I am so busy most days sometimes I do not know what day or time it is! I usually turn on the television to check! I am on a government board, and on it, I sit on three different committees. At least a couple times each month, I attend a committee meeting. I must also read documents in order to prepare for meetings. I am pursuing an English Major degree at the university, so I am in class at least once per week. I moderate a senior’s group gathering once per month at my church. In addition to reading school textbooks, I read novels or memoirs for entertainment. I also make sure to connect with friends regularly.
09. SM: What are your five favorite books, and why?
YB: I am an avid reader, and although you have narrowed it down to five books, it is still difficult to select; however, I’ll say, The Call of the Wild, The Heart of a Woman, The English Patient, The Constant Gardener, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
10. SM: What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
YB: For my children’s books it is reading to a large group of kids. Using the stacking promotion method is great for a bump in a book’s rating.
11. SM: What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
YB: When you write something and a someone reads it, visualizes what you are saying and feels passionate about what you have written.
12. SM: What’s the story behind your latest book?
YB: My latest book (not yet published) is The Guarded Virgin. I was inspired to write it based on the desire to share a unique culture and the impact it can have on people’s lives.
13. SM: What motivated you to become an indie author?
YB: I regard myself as a hybrid author since I have published books both the traditional way and as an indie. I published my first set of children’s books as an indie author because I wanted the stories out there, and seeking a traditional publisher was taking too long to obtain a publishing contract.
14. SM: How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
YB: The beauty about Smashwords is that they distribute authors’ books to several different sellers like Kobo and Barnes and Noble. Authors need not open accounts with other primary sellers. I saved a lot of time and energy, and my books received more exposure.
15. SM: Who are your favorite authors?
YB: Since I’m an avid reader and read many genres, it is difficult to say which author is my favorite. I will say that I love John Grisham and John Le Carre for their intriguing stories, and I adore Maya Angelou for the way she writes her non-fiction stories. Lately, I’m loving Michael Ondaatje’s books.
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